The 40 Over 40 Project
Melanie Nichols,
Age 40
Tell me about yourself and how you feel about being a woman over the age of 40.
I will be 41 in November. My husband and I have been married 21 years and we have three children (14, 12, 5). I taught elementary school before having children and I’m now a preschool director. Age, motherhood, and years of living on my students have added pounds, wrinkles, and plenty of gray hair. Yet I find myself in the stage of life where I am comfortable in my own skin, confident in who I am, looking forward to the future, and trying to enjoy each day as it comes.
When do you feel most confident?
When I am talking about preschool, education, play, child development, etc... And when I am in worship services, praising God.
How did your painful times give you the gift of resilience?
Difficult times have strengthened my faith. They have built confidence in myself, my abilities, and the assurance that I am never alone.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Love your body. Take care of it, nourish it, strengthen it. Love yourself. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. There is no more beautiful fact to hold onto. Keep working on being the best version of you. Ask for help. Listen to advice. Be kind always.
What would you tell other mature women about stepping out of their comfort zone and doing a photo shoot?
You are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. There is no more beautiful fact to hold onto. He knows and loves every spot, every wrinkle, and every beautiful gray hair. Capturing *you* as you are today is a memory that you and your loved ones will cherish.